Vault Guardian renewal education
How to renew your U.S. passport online (2026 guide)
Renewing a U.S. passport used to mean printing DS-82, mailing a check, and waiting. As of 2025 the State Department's online renewal system is open to most eligible adults — no printer, no post office, no paper photo. Here's exactly how it works and whether you qualify.
Renewing a U.S. passport used to mean printing DS-82, mailing a check, and waiting. As of 2025 the State Department's online renewal system is open to most eligible adults — no printer, no post office, no paper photo. Here's exactly how it works and whether you qualify.
Who can renew online
You must be 25 or older, live in the U.S. (not a territory or abroad), and hold a passport book issued 9–15 years ago that isn't damaged, lost, or stolen.
Name changes, emergency travel within 8 weeks, and passport cards still require the paper DS-82 or DS-11 process.
What you need before you start
A MyTravelGov account (free), your current passport number and issue date, a digital photo taken against a plain white wall, and a credit or debit card.
The system rejects photos with shadows, glasses, or filters — retake it against a flat white surface in daylight if the first upload fails.
Cost and processing times
Standard online renewal is $130. There is no online expedited option — if you need it faster than 6–8 weeks, use paper DS-82 with the $60 expedite fee.
Once submitted you cannot change or expedite the application. Your old passport stays valid until the new one arrives.
What can delay or reject your application
Common rejections: photo doesn't meet spec, name doesn't exactly match the old passport, or the previous passport was reported lost.
Rejected applications get bumped to paper processing, which can add 6+ weeks. Double-check the photo preview before you pay.
When to start the renewal
Many countries require 6 months of validity beyond your travel dates. Practically, treat a passport as expiring 6 months before the printed date.
Start renewal 9–12 months out if you travel internationally. Standard processing has jumped past 10 weeks during peak seasons.
VaultGuardian tracks your passport's real expiration date — including the 6-month buffer most countries require — and alerts you at 90, 60, and 30 days so you can renew online without paying to expedite.
Download Vault Guardian to track renewals at 90, 60, and 30 days.